Safety lock for doors



May 26, 1964 A. E. MINTZ SAFETY LOCK FOR DOORS Filed May 1, 1961INVENTOR. ALBER T EMA/T2 United States Patent 3,134,252 SAFETY LOCK FORDOORS Albert E. Mintz, Rego Park, N.Y., assignor of fifty percent eachto Robert 0. Richardson, Nashua, N.H., and Dock 8: Dock, New York, N.Y.,a partnership Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 106,613 Claims. (Cl. 70-93)This invention relates to a chain lock for doors, and more particularly,to one of the type wherein a chain is secured at one end to a slidemounted on the door and at the other end to a key actuated lockconveniently positioned on the door frame so that a key may be readilyinserted either from inside the door or outside of the door to unlockand release the chain or the lock may be easily snapped into a relockingengagement with the chain by a person from either side of the door.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 77,429, filed on December 21,1960, now Patent No. 3,081,616, issuing March 19, 1963, and entitledSafety Lock, I have provided a door chain having a wall-mounted casingstructure to receive a padlock. This padlock served as the key actuatedlocking means which releasably connected one end of the chain lock tothe door frame. The present application is a continuation-in-part ofthat application and has for one of its objects the provision of acheaper and more simply constructed bracket for re taining the padlockin position on the door frame. This novel supporting bracket for thepadlock is adapted to firmly secure either the shackle or the bodymember of the padlock thereto, leaving the other member free to swivelin the conventional manner when the padlock is unlocked. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1-4, the shacklemember of the padlock is the one which is secured against movement inany direction while the body member is free to swivel when the padlockis unlocked, leaving the associated end of the chain released from theshackle member. In the other embodiment shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, theshackle member is the member which is free to swivel when the padlock isunlocked, the body member being securely fastened by the bracket.

An object of the present invention is the provision of the novel bracketfor supporting a padlock on a door frame for releasably retaining oneend of a door chain lock.

Another object is the provision of a novel supporting bracket formounting a padlock to a door frame which is simple and inexpensive inconstruction yet durable and sturdy in construction.

A further object of the invention resides in means for mounting apadlock retaining bracket to a door frame wherein the mounting means maynot be removed or attached thereto while the body member of the padlockis in locked position.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a chain-lock for doors embodying theinvention, and in which the keyactuated padlock is shown unlocked;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the key-actuated padlock and its supportingbracket;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view but with the body member of the padlock shownswiveled outwardly for application or removal of the chain;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the bracket andassociated padlock secured to the door-frame of FIGURE 1, but with thechain omitted;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 of a modified form of theinvention; and

3,134,252 Patented May 26., 1964 ice FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on theline 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of theinvention is shown in which a chain 10 has one end 11 mounted toreciprocate in a slide 12 secured to a door 13. At the other end ofchain 10 its terminal link 15 is adapted to engage one leg 16 of theshackle member 17 of a padlock 18 having a body member 19. Shacklemember 17 is secured in a fixed position to a supporting bracket 20attached to the door frame.

The door chain 10 is just long enough so that when the door is closed,as shown, the end 11 may then be released from the slot in the slide inthe usual manner of chain-locks for doors. Padlock 18 is preferably of acommon type in which the other leg 17' of its loop or shackle member 17is a spring loaded, and to which body member 19 is swiveled so as tosnap away from the shackle member when the body member is key-actuatedto unlock it. By then pressing the two members toward each other theymay be relocked in the usual way.

Means are provided for mounting padlock 18 in an inverted verticalposition on the door-frame 21 in order that a key may be convenientlyinserted in the key hole 18', and also in such relation that the twomembers of the padlock may be easily pressed together to relock them,all from the outside as well as the inside of the door. For this purposethere is provided a supporting bracket 20 forthe padlock 18 whichconsists of a flat base 25 having two tabs 26 and 27 respectivelyextending outwardly from plate 25. Body member 19 has a flat rearsurface 28 which normally is in contact with the flat front face ofplate 25. When these parts are in this relative position, tab 26, whichmay be formed to initially loosely surround leg 17', may be pressed intosnug engagement therewith. Since the leg 17 is pivoted to body member 19at a point nearer the left edge of the body member than the distancesuch point is spaced from the rear flat surface 28, the body member canbe swung about leg 17' of shackle member 17 into the open position shownin FIGURE 3 without interference such as by the edge of the body memberimpinging the front flat surface of plate 25. With tab 26 slightlyshorter than the distance of leg 17' from plate 25, a resilient actionis provided for urging the body member 19 outwardly to open positionwhen unlocked. In this open position chain link 15, or the equivalent,may be slipped over the leg 16 now fully exposed for such purpose. Torelock, it is only necessary to swing body member 19 back again into theposition shown in FIGURES l and 2, and then press the body downwardlyuntil relocking occurs, such locking thrust on shackle member 17 beingtransmitted to tab 27 of base plate 25 which then constitutes a stop forthis purpose. Otherwise, tab 27 cooperates with tab 26 in rigidlysecuring shackle member 17 in a fixed position in which it can neitherrotate nor move up and down. Clearance is provided between tab 26 andbody member 19 for the necessary movement of the latter downwardly toeffect the locking action of the padlock.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, it will be seen that it isthe body member 19 that is held against rotation while still free to bemoved downwardly into a locked position. In this instance tab 26provides a fixed center about which leg 17' may swivel for theapplication of link 15 of chain 10, while body member 19 is restrainedfrom swiveling about leg 17' by tabs 30 and 31 which loosely overlap itin order that it may be slidable therethrough to effect lockingengagement with shackle member 17. Supporting-bracket plate 25 isprovided with a horizontally positioned ledge 32 designed to take thethrust imposed on shackle member 17 when body member 19 is presseddownwardly after positioning the link as in FIGURE 1. Tabs and 31, ifpreferred, can be of sufiicient magnitude to cover substantially all ofbody member 19 with their meeting edges welded together to form aloosely fitting housing.

In both embodiments of the invention screws are provided for securingbracket plate 25 or 25' to the doorframe 21. These screws are sopositioned that when the members of the padlock are in lockedrelationship, the screws will be inaccessible and the use of ascrewdriver to remove them will be prevented since the body or shacklemembers of the padlock, or both, will then be in a shielding positioneffective for this purpose.

It will be apparent that other forms of padlock-supporting bracketsuseful for this purpose may occur to skilled persons, and I have nointention of excluding any equivalents of the features shown anddescribed, but recognize that various modifications are possible withinthe scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety lock for doors comprising a chain of such length that whenfastened to the door and a door frame will permit partial opening of thedoor, mounting means on the door to releasably retain one end of saidchain, said mounting means comprising an elongated slot with anenlargement, said slot extending transversely with the enlargementextending inwardly from said slot, means on said chain end insertable insaid enlargement and slidably mounted within said slot, a supportbracket mounted on a door frame, said bracket comprising a flat baseplate with connecting means for mounting said plate to said door frame,said plate having outwardly extending tabs, at padlock having a bodymember and a shackle member, said padlock being mounted upside down witha key opening extending upwardly and the shackle member extendingdownwardly from the body member, said shackle member being U-shaped andhaving one leg pivotally connected to the body member, one of said tabsextending over and retaining said leg, the other of said tabs extendingover the lower end of the shackle member, said body member beingpivotable relative to said shackle member for releasing and locking theother leg, the free end of said chain being insertable over said freeend of said shackle member when said body memher is moved to unlockedposition, at least one of said connecting means fastening said plate tosaid door frame being behind said body member when said body member isin locked position, said tab engaging said other leg being slightlyshorter than the distance of said other leg to said base plate tothereby urge said body member outwardly when in unlocked condition.

2. A safety lock for doors comprising a chain of such length that whenfastened to the door and a door frame will permit partial opening of thedoor, mounting means on the door to releasably retain one end of saidchain, said mounting means comprising an elongated slot with anenlargement, said slot extending transversely with the enlargement atthe innermost end of said slot, means on said chain end insertable insaid enlargement and slidably mounted within said slot, a supportbracket mounted on a door frame, said bracket comprising a flat baseplate with connecting means for mounting said plate to said door frame,said plate having outwardly extending tabs, a padlock having a bodymember and a shackle member, said padlock being mounted upside down witha key opening extending upwardly and the shackle member extendingdownwardly from the body member, said shackle member being U-shaped andhaving one leg pivotally connected to the body member, one of said,

tabs extending over and retaining said leg, said body member beingpivotable relative to said shackle member for releasing and locking theother leg, the free end of said chain being insertable over said freeend of said shackle member when said body member is moved to unlockedposition, at least one of said connecting means fastening said plate tosaid door frame behind said shackle member when said shackle member isin locked position.

3. The safety lock for doors as in claim 2 wherein said body member ismounted for slight vertical movement but non-pivoting movement relativeto said base plate and wherein an outwardly extending tab secures saidother leg at a point below said body member to permit vertical movementthereof, a ledge extending outwardly below the lower end of said shacklemember to limit downward movement thereof, said shackle member beingrotatable when unlocked from said body member, said mounting means tosaid door frame being positioned behind the lower portion of saidshackle member when in locked position.

4. A safety lock for doors for loosely connecting a door to the adjacentdoor-frame comprising a chain of suitable length with means forattaching one end of the chain to the inside of the door, a padlock, asupporting bracket for said padlock attachable to said door-frame, saidpadlock having a shackle member and a body member mounted on saidsupporting bracket, said body member being pivotally connected to oneend of said shackle member, said shackle member being pivotally mountedon said bracket in a position in which said shackle member is free tomove pivotally toward and away from said body member so that said otherend of the chain may engage said shackle member and be locked to orreleased therefrom when the padlock is operated by a person outside thedoor.

5. A safety lock for doors according to claim 2, where in said shacklemember of the padlock is secured to the supporting bracket in a fixedposition, and the body member of the padlock is free to move pivotally,toward and away from the shackle member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,419,864 Knapp June 13, 1922 2,613,970 Holmsten Oct. 14, 1952 2,881,611Callegari Apr. 14, 1959 3,081,616 Mintz Mar. 19, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS21,844 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1912 22,135 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1911354,647 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1931

4. A SAFETY LOCK FOR DOORS FOR LOOSELY CONNECTING A DOOR TO THE ADJACENTDOOR-FRAME COMPRISING A CHAIN OF SUITABLE LENGTH WITH MEANS FORATTACHING ONE END OF THE CHAIN TO THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR, A PADLOCK, ASUPPORTING BRACKET FOR SAID PADLOCK ATTACHABLE TO SAID DOOR-FRAME, SAIDPADLOCK HAVING A SHACKLE MEMBER AND A BODY MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAIDSUPPORTING BRACKET, SAID BODY MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONEEND OF SAID SHACKLE MEMBER, SAID SHACKLE MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTEDON SAID BRACKET IN A POSITION IN WHICH SAID SHACKLE MEMBER IS FREE TOMOVE PIVOTALLY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BODY MEMBER SO THAT SAID OTHEREND OF THE CHAIN MAY ENGAGE SAID SHACKLE MEMBER AND BE LOCKED TO ORRELEASED THEREFROM WHEN THE PADLOCK IS OPERATED BY A PERSON OUTSIDE THEDOOR.